Trevor Noah uses his stage time at the Oscars to honor his South African roots – and to poke a little healthy fun while he was doing what at it.

The Daily Show host shared a Xhosa proverb while introducing Best Picture nominee Black Panther . Except that it's not inspirational quote, but Noah saying, "White people do not know I'm lying."

"Growing up as a young boy at Wakanda, I would love to see King T'Challa flying over our village, "Noah joked. "And he would remind me of a great Xhosa phrase."

It turns out to be the next part of what a joke; Noah spoke in Xhosa

South African viewers and news outlets including BBC Africa were quick to catch that " abelungu abazi ubu ndiyaxoka "actually means" white people do not know I'm lying, "a massive inside joke for all Xhosa speakers and noah's roots.

The false translation received applause at the Oscar ceremony for an admirable sentiment, but its quiet subversion illustrates that advocating unity on a surface level is not enough. Best Picture winner Green Book whose producers have been awarded every major award by emphasizing that they are more than different.

Noah's words show that if we truly want to fight for equality, then we must know and understand each other and fight in earnest – not just clap and smile at the mere idea of ​​it.